Fortnite streamer Ninja won’t play with women, and it raises questions about internet fame

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty
Images

• Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, a pro streamer on Twitch and the
  most popular “Fortnite” player in the world, says he doesn’t
  play with female gamers.
• Blevins’ decision has sparked a larger discussion
  within the gaming community.

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“I don’t play with female gamers.” 

That’s what “Fortnite: Battle Royale” streamer and
ex-professional e-sports player Tyler “Ninja” Blevins told

Polygon last week.

“If I have one conversation with one female streamer where
we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of
flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every
single video and be clickbait forever.”

Ninja owes much of his mega-fame to the Amazon-owned
livestreaming website Twitch — where, as he rightfully points
out, rumors spread quickly. In the same way that many YouTube
stars have risen to fame by chronicling their personal lives for
strangers to watch, it’s not uncommon for Twitch stars to
over-share with their audiences, and fans are often more than
eager to know the intimate details.

However, while Twitch may be a well-known breeding ground
for gossip, it is much better known for the widespread and nearly
unavoidable harassment and belittlement of female
streamers.

After Blevins’ comments went viral, Ninja’s
no-girls-allowed policy inspired a wave of backlash on
social media that lasted through the weekend. 

On Monday, Blevins clarified his stance with a statement
posted to Twitter:

When the dust had settled, it was clear that Ninja’s
comments raise tough questions about the importance of inclusion
in gaming culture, and the cost of internet fame in the modern
social media-centered world.

So far, reactions to Blevins’ comments have varied
widely

“As the largest streamer on Twitch, he had the opportunity
to make a difference when it came to gender equality in gaming,”
said Riley J. Dennis, a YouTube creator, live-streamer and
podcast host. “And instead he prioritized his comfort over the
right of women to be treated as equals.”

Dennis continued, in an email sent to Business Insider: “If
he had taken a stand and told his audience that they need to
respect women and that he’s going to be streaming with platonic
female friends, they would listen to him.”

This point was echoed on Twitter all week:

 

Meanwhile, some of the most prominent women streamers have come
out on social media in support of Ninja’s decision. 

“I’ve been a fan of Ninja for a long time. He’s always been
respectful to everyone in this space, myself included,” said
Renee Reynosa, a livestreamer and YouTuber. “I was unaware that
him playing with a woman was an ongoing discussion. I just
figured he played with people he liked and worked well with, just
like the rest of us. I never assumed otherwise.”

Fortnite streamer Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter tweeted her
support of Blevins on Monday: “It has NOTHING to do about
being sexist. And it is not teaching kids to not play with women.
It should only show others the importance of putting the health
of your relationships first, over work.”

Many Twitter users have also noted that Ninja’s support doesn’t
directly undermine or prevent the success of women streamers:

It feels relevant to note that of the female streamers and
content creators I reached out to while writing this story,
several declined to comment because they hoped to avoid
“targeted” online attacks from Ninja’s supporters on social
media.

At the very least, Ninja’s comments raise some serious
questions 

Besides being a reflection of the casual sexism that exists on
Twitch, Ninja’s comments have also inspired some troubling
questions: For example, what’s more important? Ninja’s desire for
privacy, or improving the platform that he is now synonymous
with?

“The thing to remember about creators is that their authenticity
— their willingness to be open, share personal stories, offer
their opinions, communicate with fans directly, that kind of
thing — is their biggest strength,” said Megan Farokhmanesh, an
internet culture writer for The Verge, told Business Insider in
an email.

“The relationship with creators is a para-social one, where
audience members develop a strong attachment to someone they’ve
never met — and will likely never even know they exist,” she
said. “The loss of privacy and the ensuing harassment Ninja seems
to be referencing is currently part of the cost of internet fame,
but it shouldn’t be a required price.”

YouTube creator Riley J. Dennis offered a different
perspective.

“I do that think Ninja and other Twitch partners should
want to improve the platform by promoting and supporting women
gamers,” said Dennis. “It’s just the right thing to
do. I don’t know how to make the argument that compassion for
people who are different from you is important — you should
just want to extend your
compassion towards those people.”

Clearly, there are no easy answers.

What we know is that social media, including platforms like
Twitch and YouTube, has redefined the modern understanding of
fame and celebrity. And while the pressure to be open with
strangers obviously doesn’t excuse the writing off of an
entire gender, it is certainly enough to spark an understandable
amount of fear and, in turn, result in some ugly — however
unintentional — divisiveness.

“Taking on the issue of sexism in gaming isn’t a burden I would
ever place on a single individual.  It has to be a group
effort,” said Youtuber Renee Reynosa. “So,
while I’m not a fan of how everything unraveled, I’m glad that
the end result was a discussion on how we can be more inclusive
and supportive of one another.”